Sports All-Rounder Needs More Hours in a Day

It’s going to be a busy month for outstanding athlete and Rangi Ruru student Gabby Gray (Year 13) with several key championships on her calendar.

Gabby, who hails from Amberley, will race in Taupo on 24 August at the National Secondary School Duathlon champs and a couple of days later heads to Australia with the NZSS Cross Country team to race in the Australian Secondary School championships in Canberra. From there Dunedin is her next destination for a week where she joins the 1st XI Football team for their South Island tournament.

But wait there’s more. As if that’s not enough for any young athlete, Gabby heads home for two weeks then is away again to Palmerston North for the National Secondary School Cycling champs. 

Rangi Ruru head of Sport, Jo Fogarty says Gabby is an outstanding all round sportswoman who continues to achieve at a high level of competition year after year.

“Gabby has always been a key member of Rangi’s successful Cross Country team and went to Malta with the team last year.  She was our 2nd top finisher in Malta coming in 10th overall.  She placed 11th at the National Secondary School Cross Country champs this year which enabled her to be selected for the National team. This young woman is quite exceptional.”

Gabby won a team Gold medal at the South Island Secondary School (SISS) Cycling champs last holidays and also won the Senior Girls U19 section at both the Canterbury and SISS Duathlon Champs.  Jo Fogarty says Gabby manages her time and dedication to each of her disciplines very well but there is only so much time in the day.

“She is an integral member of the Football team and has been sorely missed over the past few weeks, not playing because of her commitment to running and cycling. I am sure she will continue to do well achieving the high standards of which she is capable.”